The University of Minnesota graduate student currently detained pending deportation proceedings will be back in court later this week.

During a hearing at immigration court Tuesday, an attorney for Dogukan Günaydin, 28, asked the court to pause the removal proceedings in order to hold another hearing to address new charges filed by the Department of Homeland Security. Those charges are not yet publicly available.

Attorney Hannah Brown said she expects Günaydin will testify during the hearing scheduled for Friday morning. Another hearing in Günaydin’s case is scheduled for next week.

Günaydin appeared remotely from Sherburne County jail, wearing an orange jail uniform.

Brown had asked Judge Sarah Mazzie to close Tuesday’s proceedings to the public. She said Günaydin’s case has received a lot of public attention and she was concerned for his privacy and safety. Judge Mazzie denied that request.

Günaydin, who is from Turkey, was arrested by ICE late last month and his student visa was revoked. He sued the government, alleging ICE violated his constitutional rights, for among other things, arresting him before DHS terminated his permission to remain in the U.S.

DHS argues that Günaydin should be deported because of a June 2023 drunken driving arrest. Günaydin pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor DWI in March 2024.

— MPR News

14-year-old arrested in teen’s fatal stabbing

Police arrested a 14-year-old Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of another teenager in St. Paul last week.

The teen is being held on suspicion of murder in the death of Jay’Mier K. Givens, 19, of St. Paul, said Sgt. Toy Vixayvong, a St. Paul police spokesman.

Givens died the evening of March 31. Officers responding to 911 calls found Givens outside a Dayton’s Bluff residence on Sixth Street near Birmingham Street. Givens, who Vixayvong said wasn’t connected to the residence, was stabbed multiple times and died at the hospital.

— Mara H. Gottfried

Central Library hosting MN Black Authors Expo

The MN Black Authors Expo will be held at downtown St. Paul’s George Latimer Central Library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday with the theme “From the Page to the Stage: Bringing Black Books to Life!”

This free event includes a meet-and-greet with more than 20 writers and spoken-word artists; activities in the Kids’ Corner; a boot camp for established and emerging writers; a teen workshop; and a noon presentation featuring T. Mychael Rambo, author, vocalist, arts educator, artist and affiliate professor in the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Theatre Arts and Dance program.

This expo was started eight years ago by authors DeVonna Pittman and Jasmine Boudou to empower Black writers in all genres. Since then, it has become one of the largest gatherings of Black authors and book lovers in the Twin Cities.

For more information, go to mnblackauthorsexpo.com.

— Mary Ann Grossman

Extremist convicted in firearms case, feds say

A federal jury in Minneapolis convicted a Redwood Falls man, said to be a member of a white supremacist organization, of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon on April 4, announced Acting U.S.

Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick.

Andrew David Munsinger, 41, was also convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

A news release from Kirkpatrick’s office says Munsinger was a member of the Aryan Freedom Network, a white supremacist organization, according to evidence presented at trial.

He was the subject of a yearlong FBI investigation that gathered multiple audio and video recordings of Munsinger possessing and shooting firearms, purchasing and using ammunition, and admitting that he could not legally possess a firearm.

On Feb. 7, 2024, FBI agents executed search warrants at Munsinger’s residence in Redwood Falls, his two vehicles, and a farm near Lake Lillian.

Law enforcement seized a total of five firearms, including two personally made semiautomatic rifles, two shotguns and a 9-mm pistol. Hundreds of rounds and casings of ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines and other firearm accessories, and a tactical bullet-resistant vest were also seized.

Officers also discovered more than 5 pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed packages, a marijuana grow operation and $24,300 cash in $100-bill denominations.

Because Munsinger has prior felony convictions, he was prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.

Munsinger was convicted in 2007 for first-degree pos

session of narcotics and in 2009 for third-degree sale of narcotics. He served 74 months in prison, according to the federal complaint.

In the complaint, authorities alleged that Munsinger told someone he wanted to convert a handgun capable of firing rounds that can pierce light armor into a rifle. He also discussed explosives and said he could make explosive booby traps.

Munsinger is also alleged to have stated that he could conduct an “accelerationist attack” and that he was capable of killing. He claimed that after his release from prison, he went to the prosecutor’s house at night “and observed the prosecutor sleeping in a bed.” Munsinger said he pointed a shotgun at the prosecutor but decided not to fire. Munsinger stated that he did the same thing to his ex-wife’s boyfriend.

After a five-day jury trial before Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court, Munsinger was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of firearms, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

— Forum News Service